We wrote previously about a way to mount ISO images in Windows without using a physical CD ROM drive (Create a Virtual CD ROM drive to Mount ISO Images). We have found a tool that is easier to use and is also free.
Virtual CloneDrive emulates a CD/DVD drive. Once the software is installed, Virtual CloneDrive mounts itself as an empty CD ROM drive in Windows Explorer. You can then use that empty CD ROM drive to mount your ISO images just as if you were inserting a CD into a physical CD drive.
Download Virtual CloneDrive from http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html and install it. You shouldn’t have to reboot your computer.
When you open My Computer, you should see a DVD Drive available.
Right-click on the icon and select Virtual CloneDrive | Mount from the pop-up menu.
A dialog box displays allowing you to select an ISO file. Navigate to your desired ISO file, select it, and click Open.
The ISO file is mounted just like you put a CD in a physical CD ROM drive. You can view the contents of the file and install the program the same way you would with a physical CD.
To unmount the ISO file, select VCD | Unmount from the pop-up menu. This is just like ejecting a CD from a physical CD ROM drive.
Virtual CloneDrive is very easy to use and is a handy tool if you don’t have access to a CD drive.
by Lori Kaufman
I find the best free tool by far to be Daemon tools lite which also comes with a nice windows sidebar gadget for quickly mounting/dismounting isos. It will also allow multiple simultaneous virtual drives,
Great post .it's very useful for me .i should dump daemon tools
[...] wrote about two different methods of mounting ISO images in Windows without using a CD drive (Mount ISO Images in Windows for Free and Create a Virtual CD ROM drive to Mount ISO [...]